Folding suitcase.



L. AUSTER.

FOLDING SUITCASE. APPLICATION FILED Aus.I4.Is1s.

1,287,821. Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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LOUIS AUSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING SUITCASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 1'?, 1918.

Application filed August 14, 1918. Serial No. 249,866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUrs Aos'rnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at 83 West 103rd street, New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Suitcases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to folding suit cases or the like and has for its primary object. the provision of a device of this character which will be strong, durable, simple of construction, and of a design whereby it can be arranged in a comparatively small and flat package, capable of being packed in a trunk or stored in a small space when not in use, while possessing those characteristics which will permit of its being readily adjusted or set up in case formation when desired for use.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for reinforcing the corners of the case so as to give the maxi-v mum rigidity to the structure when set up, and the employment of fastenings which are adapted to co-act with the reinforcing means to maintain an operative relation thereof to the walls of the case and for holding the walls of the case in relatively rigid positions.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement of parts which will hereinafter be fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. l

In the accompanying drawings, has been illustrated, a single and preferred form of the invention, it being, however understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein eX- hibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the case showing the same set up.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case showing the same in its folded condition ready for storage or shipment.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section therethrough taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the case showing the same partly folded.

. shown,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the reinforcing members.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the fastenp The mentioned section 15 consists of a uwall 16 which is adapted to lie in parallel relation to the wall 11 of the section 10 both when the case is set up and when it is folded. End walls 17-17 are hinged at 18 to the end edges of said wall 16 and the arrangement is such that the mentioned walls 17-17 can be folded in fiat parallel engagement with the wall 16 when the case is folded to the position shown in Fig. 2. They are also adapted to be folded to lie at right angles to the wall 16 so that their free longitudinal edges 19 can be extended into the section 10 and against the inner faces of the walls 14-14 when the case is set up in the position shown in Fig. 1.

sectional side wall 2O is arranged with its section 21 hinged at 22 to the wall 16 and as the section 23 is hinged to the wall 12 of the section 10 of the case. Both sections 21 and 23 are hinged together at 24 so that they are capable of being folded against each other as shown in Fig. 4. The other side wall 25 of the case is hinged at 26 to the wall 16 and is adapted to be folded in parallel relation to the wall 16 and the said walls 17-17 as partly illustrated in Fig. 4.

Angular corner pieces 27 or reinforcing members are arranged at all corners of the case and the branches 28-28 thereof are provided with openings 29 adapted to register with mating openings 30 formed in each of the walls 17-17, 21 and 23 and the side wall 25 as shown in Fig. 4. Fastening bolts 3l are insertible through the registering passages referred to, and within the case are co-acting nuts 32 adjustably mounted on the said bolts and removable therefrom. In this manner, it will be observed that the entire case can be quickly knocked doWn or set up as the occasion demands, and when set up, the case will be positively held against accidental collapse.

The Walls 13 and 25 are respectively provided With mating elements 33 and 34 of ay lock so that the case can be properly sealed when desired. These Walls are also provided With mating elements 35 and 36 of suitable Well knoWn clasps which serve to Ihold What may be termed the cover section l in a closed position. The Wall 16 is also provided With a swinging. handle 37 by means of Which the case can be conveniently carried. This handle is arranged to be folded Within the said cover section When the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 3.

ln lieu of the bolts 3l referred to herein, fastenings 38 may be employed and the same consists in the provision of a shank 39 having a slot 40 therein adapted to receive a removable Wedge e'el.

`What is claimed as neW is l. ln a folding suit case, a section having a plurality of rigidly connected Walls, a second section of hingedly connected Walls, one Wall of the second section having` folding connection With one Wall of the first section, the remaining Walls of said second section being` freely insertible in the first Sapins of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each,

Leanser section for engagement With the inner faces of the adjacent Walls of said first section When the case is set up, and means removable from the Walls of said second section and serving to hold said Walls in relatively rigid positions When said case is set up, said means embodying angular corner members closing the joints betWeen said hingedly connected Walls and fastenings passing through the branches of the corner members and through the adjacenthingedly connected Walls. Y

2. In a. folding suit. case, a section having a. plurality of relativeljgf rigid Walls, a second mating section having folding` connection With said first section and including hinged Walls, certain of the Walls ofsaid second section having openings therein corner pieces removable from said Walls and provided With openings therein registering With the firstmentioned openings, said corner pieces serving to seal the joints betWeen the hinged Walls of said second section, fastening members freely passing through the registered openings, and means Within the case (2o-acting With said members to hold the corner pieces lined to the Walls of said second section.

in testimony Whereof l affix my signature.

by addressing the Eommissonerrof Patents Washington, EB. 1E. 

